Meet Elyse Perron-Evans | Floral Designer & Generally Crafty

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elyse Perron-Evans and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elyse, how do you think about risk?
I’m actually right at a decision point of a big risk for Poppy & Pomegranate so this question feels very relevant at the moment. For the last three years I’ve been working full-time alongside kick starting my floral design studio. After my busiest wedding season this past summer I’ve decided that in order to bring Poppy & Pomegranate to its full potential as well as offer the level of client service I’d like to, I will need to dive feet first into working solely for myself for the first time. Being the second of three children, I like to think that I’ve always been an, “observe first, act second” type of person. I’m not averse to risk, but the ones I choose to take will always be thoughtfully pursued and take time to execute. I like to make sure I have all of the information before making a decision.
Poppy & Pomegranate was born of a risk, I moved to Washington from Boston to give my up-until-that-point long distance relationship a shot and now I’ve been here three years, married, with a blossoming business.
Risk has always been one of those things that has pushed me to know myself better and find out what I can do, I truly believe that challenging ourselves to be out of our comfort zone brings about the most growth.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always been someone who is drawn to more creative pursuits than mathematical or mechanical. I started drawing at a young age and got more serious about it around my junior year of high school. Truth be told, I feel like following my gut and listening to what the universe is guiding me to has always been something that allowed what is supposed to happen to play out. I ended up going to the only art school I applied to for college and wouldn’t trade that experience for the world even with the whole first year being swallowed by panic attacks and anxiously tucking myself away between classes. I took a part-time job with a florist that functioned out of a converted ATM vestibule before studying abroad and found my passion. I wouldn’t say it’s been hard, there have definitely been uncomfortable growths along the way, but I think the other half of it has been learning a healthy support system looks like. When creating became more important in my life, taking on the role of a possible form of income, I met incredibly supportive people who rooted for me, celebrated every success, and listened through every defeat. I hadn’t experienced that type of friendship before and had a lot to learn in terms of even effort, relying on others, and the general, unrelenting cheerleaders the right people can be. Because of these lessons, Poppy & Pomegranate is built on the pillar of community over competition. As humans we are extremely social and community based creatures, I believe that we are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is such a fabulous question! As someone who is not from the area that I currently live in, any opportunity to show someone around is an excuse to explore myself. When people come to visit me on Whidbey Island I tend to take them to the two small towns with the best streets of small business shopping. The first one is Coupeville, here you can find Meet Market, a community oriented studio and art supply store, Little Red Hen Bakery, some of the best pastries on the island, and Kingfisher Books, a quant two story shop bursting with the best titles. After Coupeville, another 30 minute south is Langley. Here you can find Bayview Farm and Garden, Feather & Fox Print Company, and the best pizza at Village Pizzeria. In the few hours it takes to walk around each town you’ll find smiling faces and warm vibes, there is so much love for small business and it doesn’t take too long to feel the support from both the foot traffic and owners. Because Whidbey is extremely rural, there is also plenty of hiking and sight seeing. You can explore one of the numerous World War II era forts, visit Meerkerk Gardens in Greenbank, and walk a long the bluffs keeping a sharp eye for the occasional orca pod that comes through Puget Sound.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To my CFO, biggest supporter, coach, and Dad. Thanks for always picking up the phone and pushing me to do what you know I’m capable of. To my Mom, some of the biggest emotional support behind the scenes and for loving all things flowers with me, I’m looking forward to the next wedding we get to work on together. To my husband, the muscle behind most projects and the only one that can keep my feet on the ground while my head floats from cloud to cloud. I love you.

Website: https://www.poppyandpomegranate.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poppyandpomegranate/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/popandpom

Image Credits
Nick Hanyok Imaging Perenchio Photography Alexandra Celia Madison Emily Hare Photo Cindy Nguyễn Photography